Russia To Provide Free Grains To Six African Countries – Putin

In a statement made on Monday, President Vladimir Putin revealed that Russia is on the verge of finalizing an agreement to provide free grain supplies to six African nations. This initiative comes in the wake of the collapse of the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal back in July.

Following Russia’s withdrawal from the deal, which aimed to ensure secure grain exports through the Black Sea region, the country has been actively addressing African concerns about the potential repercussions of the deal’s failure on food security.

Putin disclosed, during a press conference alongside Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that Russia is nearing the completion of agreements with six African states. He emphasized that Russia would not only supply the food but also handle logistics, all free of charge, with deliveries scheduled to commence within the next few weeks.

It’s noteworthy that both Ukraine and Russia have formulated plans to export grain independently, bypassing the framework of the collapsed grain deal—a move that the UN has asserted is crucial for global food security.

Putin expressed Russia’s willingness to re-engage with the grain deal as soon as the restrictions on its own exports are lifted, stating, “We will be ready to consider the possibility of reviving the grain deal as soon as all the agreements on lifting restrictions on Russian agricultural exports are fully implemented.”

Russia has previously criticized the deal, contending that the West has indirectly imposed restrictions on its grain and fertilizer exports by limiting access to global payment systems and insurance.

Furthermore, Turkey is advocating for the parties involved to return to the agreement and utilize it as a foundation for broader peace talks.